Broward volleyball teams seek to regain championship form

Only one team has won a state title since 2007. Will that change this year?

September 2, 2013|By Christy Cabrera Chirinos, Sun Sentinel

Not too long ago, a Broward County volleyball team winning a state championship was routine.

Teams from across the area advanced to the state tournament in solid numbers. Programs including Cardinal Gibbons, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pine Crest regularly brought home titles.

But there's been a shift in recent seasons.

Since 2007, only one team—the 2010 Gibbons squad—has won a state championship. For Broward's public schools, the drought is even longer with no program winning a title since Douglas did so in 1994.

Teams are still advancing the state tournament. Both St. Thomas and Sheridan Hills made it to Kissimmee a season ago, but the championships have stopped.

And local coaches say that while the title drought speaks to the growth of volleyball across the state, they're frustrated Broward could be falling behind.

"I've noticed the trend," said Pompano Beach coach William Strachan. "It's tough. But it's because of the popularity of the sport. It's growing across the state and we have a lot of strong clubs and we have good travel teams in other areas and they feed the high schools in that area."

Strachan's Tornadoes could be one of the teams to help Broward return to championship form. Pompano Beach returns six experienced players from last year's team which advanced to the regional semifinals. Among them are senior outside hitter Brittany Pellitteri, junior middle Paige Alsten and junior outside hitter Nikki Esposito.

St. Thomas, last year's Class 7A state runner-up, should again be one of the county's top programs with four returning starters including first-team All-County selections Mackenzie Zielinski and Nikki Lyons.

Reigning Sun Sentinel Class 5A-4A-3A-2A Player of the Year Emily O'Neil and first-team All-County selection Alyssa Osborn return for Chaminade-Madonna, giving the Lions a boost entering the season and Cardinal Gibbons returns another strong squad with five returning starters including All-County defensive specialist/outside hitter Ali Jacobs.

And as the season continues, the hope is that some of that talent will help Broward put together a strong showing at the state tournament, especially with a growing number of players competing in beach volleyball during the off-season.

"It's a matter of girls playing younger in club and we see beach [volleyball] getting bigger and bigger," Strachan said. "You can't really separate beach and indoor anymore. Playing beach allows you to read hitters better and learn different shot angles. Beach players can find shots that will drive indoor players crazy."

More players to watch

Kimeko Bennett, St. Thomas Aquinas, OPP, Jr.

Nikki Brito, Pembroke Pines Charter, S/MB, Sr.

Casey Calhoun, Pompano Beach, S, Jr.

Hannah Chaplik, North Broward Prep, OH, Jr.

Lindsay Foreman, Calvary Christian, OH, Sr.

Julia Lindbergh, Coral Springs Christian, Jr., MB/OH

Genna Luciano, Pine Crest, MB, Sr.

Kara Mason, St. Thomas Aquinas,

Amanda Medlock, Western, OH, Sr.

Savannah Stones, Cardinal Gibbons, DS, Jr.

Notable number

675: Number of wins notched by St. Thomas Aquinas coach Lisa Zielinski. Zielinski, who entered the season with 674 wins, picked up the milestone win with a 25-8, 25-6, 25-8 win over Plantation during the first week of the season. This is Zielinski's 26th year at St. Thomas.